The document provides information about the Knysna forests located in South Africa. It discusses the history of destruction of the forests from woodcutting in the 1700s and 1800s. It also describes some protected tree species, Knysna's furniture industry, current forest harvesting practices, and recreational activities available in the forests like hiking and mountain biking. The forests are now protected but previously suffered heavy exploitation that reduced indigenous forest coverage in the area from about 250,000 hectares to 65,000 hectares.

1. Knysna Lagoon
Thesen’s Jetty, kNYSNA
PO Box 314 Knysna 6570
Telephone 044 382 2095
Fax 044 382 5801
South African
National Parks
2 Tree Fern; Bosboomvaring; isiHihi; Cyathea capensis
16 Outeniqua Yellowwood; Kalander; umKhoba Podocarpus falcatus
18 Real Yellowwood; Opregtegeelhout; umCheya; Podocarpus latifolius
32 Wild Banana; Wildepiesang; Strelitzia alba
38 Mountain Waxberry; Bergwasbessie; uMakhuthula; Myrica serrata
39 White Stinkwood; Witstinkhout; umVumvu; Celtis africana
50 Wild Fig; Wildevyeboom; umKhiwane; Ficus capensis
74 Terblans; Terblans; umKhubane; Faurea macnaughtonii
118 Stinkwood; Stinkhout; umNukani; Occotea bullata
139 White Cape Beech
Witboekenhout; umKhwenkwe; Pittosporum viridiflorum
140 Red Alder; Rooi-els; umQashube; Cunonia capensis
141 White Alder; Witels; Platylophus trifoliatus
142 Witch-hazel; Onderbos; iThambo; Trichocladus crinitus
147 Red Stinkwood; Rooistinkhout; iNyazangoma; Prunus africana
221 Keurboom; Keurboom; Virgilia oroboides
254 Knobwood; Perdepram; umLungamabele; Fagara davyi
256 Cape Chestnut; Wildekastaiing; umBhaba; Calodendrum capense
261 White Ironwood; Witysterhout; umZane; Vepris undulata
298 Cape Ash; Essenhout; umGwenya-wezinja; Ekebergia capensis
380 Red Currant; Bostaaibos; umHlakothi; Rhus chirindensis
397 Cape Holly; Without; umDuma; Ilex mitis
398 Silky Bark; Sybas; umNama; Maytenus acuminata
399 Spike Thorn; Pendoring; umQaqoba; Maytenus heterophylla
Inheemseswarthout; umNqai; Maytenus peduncularis
401 Indigenous Blackwood
409 Candlewood; Kershout; uGobandlovu; Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus
410 Cape Cherry; Kooboebessie; umBovane; Cassine aethiopica
414 Bastard Saffron; Bastersaffraan; iKhukhuzi; Cassine peragua
415 Saffron; Saffraan; umBovane; Cassine papillosa
422 White Pear; Witpeer; umDakane; Apodytes dimidiata
452 Dogwood; Blinkblaar; umGlindi; Rhamnus prinoides
457 Stock Rose; Stokroos; Sparrmannia africana
463 Dewberry; Kruisbessie; umNqabaza; Grewia occidentalis
479 Cape Plane; Rooihout; umThentsema; Ochna arborea
494 Wild Peach; Wildeperske; Idungamuzi; Kiggelaria africana
496 Red Pear; Rooipeer; iQumza; Scolopia mundii
498 Thorn Pear; Wolwedoring; iQumza elinameva; Scolopia zeyheri
503 Wild Mulberry; Wildemoerbei; umNqabane; Trimeria grandiflora
513 Hard Pear; Hardepeer; iNqudu; Olinia ventosa
520 Gonna; Gonnabos; Passerina falcifolia
570 Assegai; Assegaai; umGxina; Curtisia dentata
Boekenhout; isiQwane sehlathi; Rapanea melanophloeos
578 Cape Beech;
579 Milkwood; Melkhout; umQwashu; Sideroxylon inerme
603 Monkey Plum; Tolbos; umBongisa; Diospyros dichrophylla
611 Forest Monkey Plum; Bostolbos; Diospyros whyteana
Fynblaarysterhout; umNqumaswele; Chionanthus foveolata
615 Ornate-Leaved Ironwood
617 Wild Olive; Swartolienhout; umNquma; Olea capensis
618 Bastard Ironwood; Basterysterhout; Olea capensis subsp. capensis
Ysterhout; Ugqwangxe; Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa
618.2 Ironwood
634 Wild Elder; Vlier; isiKhali; Nuxia floribunda
636 False Olive; Witolienhout; umGqeba; Buddleia saligna
637 Wild Sage; Wildesalie; iGqange; Buddleia salviifolia
639 Poison Bush; Gifboom; iNtlungunyembe; Acokanthera oppositifolia
641 Kamassi; Kamassie; iGala-gala; Gonioma kamassi
670 Tree Fuchsia; Notsung; umBinza; Halleria lucida
688 Wild Pomegranate; Wildegranaat; unFincane; Burchellia bubalina
693 Wild Gardenia; Wildekatjiepiering; iBolo; Rothmannia capensis
708 Turkey-berry; Bokdrol; umNyushulube; Canthium inerme
710 Rock Alder; Klipels; umSantulane; Canthium mundianum
711 Quar; Kwar; umGupe; Psydrax obovata
733 Camphor Bush; Saliehout; Tarconanthus camphoratus
Bietou; ulwAmfithi; Chrysanthemoides monilifera
736.2 Bush-tick Berry
Copy & Graphic Design: BarefootClients.co.za Tel. 082 448 2140 - www.barefootclients.co.za
Numbers according to the National List of Trees followed by English, Afrikaans and, where available, Xhosa names. Botanical names in italics
TREES OF THE GARDEN rOUTE
Knysna Lagoon
The Knysna
Forests
the KNYSNA FORESTS
outh Africa is blessed with many things, but it has always been short PROTECTED TREES OF THE KNYSNA AREA
of both water and natural woodlands. And yet of about 250,000 Although all indigenous trees are protected to some extent, the following
hectares of indigenous forest which grew in the Southern Cape in theS species have been given the highest level of protection:
mid 1700's, only about 65,000 hectares remain. OuteniquaYellowwood (Kalander) - the `big tree.' Its timber was once used
for ships' masts and is now used for furniture.
DESTRUCTION Real Yellowwood - more popular than kalander, it has always been sought
Little is known of the earliest human inhabitants of the Garden Route, except after for beams, flooring and furniture (to tell the difference when you’re in the
that they were mostly wanderers who relied largely on the ocean for their forest: the kalander's bark peels off in ragged blocks, while the real
sustenance. It is almost certain, therefore, that the forests lay virtually yellowwood's peels off in narrow, vertical strips).
untouched until the late 1700's, when woodcutters' posts were established at Milkwood - produces a strong, hard and durable timber which was formerly
George and Plettenberg Bay. In 1804, George Rex - the man they call “the used in boat building. Protected because it grows in thickets which create
founder of Knysna” - settled here with the express intention of exploiting the unique micro-environments in the coastal scrub.The bark is used in traditional
forests, and in 1817 the Naval Commissioner at Simonstown wrote that the medicine for treating broken limbs and to dispel nightmares.
Knysna forests contained “a sufficient quantity of fine timber to build a whole Stinkwood - a hard and heavy but easily worked wood which ranges in colour
navy.” A naval dockyard was therefore established at Knysna in 1820, from gold through brown to almost black. It is one of the most expensive and
although it was burned down twice before even a single ship was built and it highly prized timbers in the world and has become a symbol of Cape culture.
was closed after just 5 years. During World War II, however, a local boatyard,
Thesen & Co., was employed to build ships for the British Navy. Fortunately KNYSNA'S FINE FURNITURE INDUSTRY
for the Knysna forests, though, these vessels were built from imported Knysna was for many years considered the centre of South Africa's fine
hardwoods, although the boats' knees, which held the ribs to the thwarts, were furniture industry and had a cabinet makers' trade school, which occupied the
made from indigenous milkwood. present day ambulance services building on Main Street. A number of
Knysna's first harbour facility, the wooden 'Government Jetty,' was built furniture factories can be visited and it is also possible to visit some of the
in 1883 and the brig Ambulant was its first visitor. She came to load a typical indigenous timber yards. For more information, please call Knysna Tourism
cargo of the time: 3,000 railway sleepers cut from indigenous yellowwood. on 044 382 1610.
Harvesting continued throughout the 19th century and was responsible
for much of the destruction of the forests, although encroachment and the PLANTATION FORESTRY
Great Fire of 1869, which burned a huge swath from George to Humansdorp,
SouthAfrica's plantation forests cover nearly 1.5 million hectares, or 1.2% of
also contributed. The first Conservator Of Forests was appointed in 1874 as a
the country's total land mass. The Cape Province has about 84,000 ha of
direct result of a Government enquiry into the fire, but indiscriminate
plantations, much of which occurs in the Southern Cape.The preferred species
exploitation was only finally stopped in 1939, when the forests were closed to
in this area is the softwoodPinus radiata- the Monterey pine.
independent woodcutters.
TIMBER ROUTEHARVESTING
Meet local timber suppliers, woodworkers, cabinetmakers, log home builders
Indigenous timber is now harvested at a rate of no more than 2m3 (1 tree) per
and craftsmen on the KnysnaTimber Route - more information and maps from
hectare. The process - called the “mortality harvesting pre-emption system” -
KnysnaTourism on 044 382 1610.
is strictly controlled by Government and seeks to emulate the forests’natural
cycle. Only trees which can be expected to die within the next ten years are
RECREATION IN THE FORESTSfelled - and in the felling, space is made for young saplings to grow towards
The state-managed indigenous forests of the Garden Route offer facilities formaturity.
camping, walking, hiking, horse riding, picnicking, angling, scenic drives,Apart from this limited harvesting, our indigenous forests are now
bird-watching, and quiet contemplation. In addition, the Forestry departmentprotected and will remain so for generations to come.
offers education facilities at a youth centre at Harkerville forest.
The forests also offer some of the finest mountain biking routes in the
CONSERVATION country. Maps and information from Knysna Tourism -
The history of the forests reminds us of the inter-connectedness of all things -
telephone 044 382 1610.
and therefore of the need to conserve. Our forefathers saw the forests as a vast
resource which could never be depleted, but their harvesting of timber has
SUGGESTED READINGcreated other problems, like poor water and soil quality, which will worsen
Izak van der Merwe - The Knysna And Tsitsikammaunless every care is taken to preserve the remaining natural environments.
Forests Their History, Ecology And Management. The
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Knysna.
Telephone 044 - 382 5466.
Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky - Khalil Gibran
WOOD CRAFTSMEN AT WORK
Indigenous furniture & woodcraft.
Original wood creations.
Creative wood signs.
Hand-selected timbers.
www.timbervillage.co.za
Timber Village, Welbedacht Lane, Knysna
Tel / Fax +27(0)44 382 5649 Cell +27(0)83 627 2464
e-mail: jock@timbervillage.co.za
Visit our picturesque timber yard where craftsmen create unique furniture & woodcraft.
Delight in our display of trunk-wide woodcuts which unveil the full glory of the natural timber.
Timber Village
d
t
Welb
ac
e
h
anL
e
Town
Centre
Knysna
Lagoon
ail
ay
R
w
rid
B
ge
Knysna
Lagoon
N2
N2
N2
2 km